Portable platform



Agg. 1,2., 1930. R. T. Roma 1,172,736

PORTABLE rm'rronl Filed June 16., 1927 Ik ven/E01."

Patented aug. 12, 1930 'r )OFFICE romarin nomma, or nom cnmrmrs, MICHIGAN i l ronrmn PLATFORM Application med June 16,

This invention relates to portable platforms particularly adapted for use in connection withindustrial trucks of the load elevating or and constructed to permit lift platform type the truck platform to be propelled or intro duced beneath the Hoor boards of the platform same time l of my invention.

to lift the same and transport it to a predetermined destination. The present invention enables platforms to be practicably built which are capable of supporting in use heavy loads, such as five andtcn ton loads, and in which the supporting legs are strong so as to withstand hard usage. I.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable platform of the above character having a load supporting floor and improved supporting members or legs of relatively light and simple construction yet which render the platform capable of sustaining extremely heavy loads.

In lifting and transporting heavy loads supported by the portable platforms of the character shown and described in my Letters Patent No. 1,608,039, issued November 23, 1926, in limited areas or where the door space is considerably restricted, frequently the supporting structure or legs of the platforms are damaged by collisions or impacts, such as when the truck operator propels the lift truck platform against one ofthe legs. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable platform inv which the supporting legs may be readilyv detached `for the purpose of renewing or replacing the same in the event while at the providing a platform which will be sturdy and capable of sustaining heavy loads, therebyreducing to a minimum the upkeep and maintenance of such equipment.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. In said drawings: Fig. 1 is a top'plan view ofthe platform of damage thereto during use,

Fig-2 is a side elevation of the platform of F ig. 1 showing the detachable legs 1n opera- .of transverse boards 11.

1927. Serial No. 199,358.

ive relation with respect to, the platform oor. i

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the platform of Fig. 2 showin in broken lines a truck platform positioned tween the supporting legs and about to lift the platform.

Fig-4 is a detail perspective view of one of the detachable and interchangeable leg supports. Beforeexplaining in detail the resent` invention, and the method or mode .o operation embodiedtherein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application f to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying 05 drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodimentsand of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be l understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, an it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended or the-requirements of the prior art.

The portable platform in the present instance is sh own as a wholeat 10 and comprises a-load sup'porting lioor formed of a plurality The platform floor is bound around its marginal edges by means of a metal frame comprising, preferably, an- S0 gle bars 12 embracing or confining the longitudinal edges of the floor, and transverse angle bars 13 confining the .end edges of the floor. The load supporting floor is provided on its under surface with a pair of metal supporting and reinforcing plates 14 which are arv ranged in parallelism and preferably posltioned adjacent the longitudinal edges of the platform. Beneath each plate 1 4 and a.t th e outer edge thereof, there is provided a longltudinallyextending plate or strip 15 which is maintained in spaced relation with respect to the plate, 14 by means of a narrow filler strip or bar 16 interposed therebetween. The plates 14, 15 and 16 are all secured together 95 and tothe angle bars 12 and.13 by means of l bolts 17. At the inner longitudinal edge of n, each plate 14 there is provided a trusspmember or angle bar 18 having a. vertical'flange'- 18n and a horizontal flangel 18", the latter.v 10

, hole or slot 180 (Fig.

`iso

.- of rivets 35. It will be seen I and to t 20, there being flange being maintained in s aced relation with respect to the plate 14 y4 interposing between the flange and the plate a filler strip or bar 19. The members 18 and 19 and the inner edgle of the plate 14 are secured together e platform floor by means of bolts preferably a series of such bolts which inay be arranged in staggered i'e lation (Fig. 1) the bolts having countersunk hea-ds so as to lie flush with the exposed or under surface of the flange 18b (Fig. 3). The nuts applied to the threaded ends of the bolts 2() are adapted to fit in recesses 11 formed in the floor boards in order Ithat the load supporting floor of the platform will present a plain or unobstructed top surface, this being desirable since material of relatively heavy character when being placed upon the platform floor would tend to shear off or loosen the bolts. The flange 18'L of each angle is provided adjacent its opposed ends with a 3) for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As will be seen in Fig. 3. the plates 15 and.

the angle 18 are spaced relatively to one anto the plates 14, to provide a guideway. yor channel 25 (Fig. 3) adapted to receive the detachable supporting means for the platform.

In order to support the platform floor so that the platform may be engaged bv the lift platform of a power driven industrial truck and elevated and transported thereby, I provide preferably, four detachable leg supports shown as a whole at 30 (Fig. 4). Each leg support comprises a vertical channel 31. A flat bar bent to provide a foot or base portion 31 ncloses the lower end of each channel 31. '.Ihe central web portion of the channel ad- ]acent its upper end is provided with an aperture or slot 31". The upper end of each-channel 31 is connected to a plate 34 and to the truss member 18 through the medium of a gusset member 32. This member is preferably pressed or draw provide an upper horizontal flange 32 overlying webs 32 located at opposite sides of the ch annel, and an integral rear web 32. The channel and gusset members are riveted together at 33. The horizontal portion 32 of the gus- 4set which overlies the upper end of the channel 31'serves as means to support a metal plate 34 somewhat widerthan the gusset 32, 'thereby providing outwardly projecting flanges 34 and 34". The plate 34 is preferably secured to the horizontal portion 32B by means u from the foregoing that the channel, gusset and plate are all secured together to provide a sturdy leg support, which is,v of relatively simple character and inexpepsive to manufacture.

Whei'i it is desirable to assemble the platform, it is simply necessary to insert the plate 30 of eachv supporting leg in the channel or nf from a flat ksteel plate to the top ofthe channel, reinforcing side` guideway 25, slide the leg member into place until the apertures or slots 180 and 31h register, whereupon a bolt 36 having a countersunk head adapted to lie flush with the inner face of the vertical flange 18a, is inserted through the aligned apertures and a nut 37 applied thereto to firmly secure the leg meinber to the truss member 18. It will be noted that the flange portions 34* and 34b yare'thus interlocked in position between the plate 14 on the one hand and the parts 15 and 18 on the other hand.

In Fig. 3 I have shown one of my improved portable platforms about to be engaged an lifted4 by means of the lift platform L of a power driven industrial truck T. The vertical flanges 18 of the truss members serve asV guide means for the lift platform when moving into position to lift and transport the portable platform, whereas the horizontal flanges 18h serve to receive and distribute the upward thrust of the lift platform, thereby protecting the floor boards 11 of the portable platform.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved portable platform having preferably detachable supporting legs which, whendamaged or otherwise for use, may be easily removed.

rendered unfit and new ones installed without necessitating the complete rebuilding or replacement of the portable platform. By providing portable platforms having detachable supporting legs in accordance with this invention, it 1s pos sible to store a greater number of platforms in a given area or storage space than where portable platforms of the integral leg type are used. Moreover.l the platforms may shipped in carriers in greater quantities in a given space since the detachable legs may be removed, thereby' facilitating the loading n or facking of the platforms claim:

1. LA portable platform having a load supporting floor, structural members carried' by the under side of said floor, supporting legs for shipment.

for the platform adapted ,to be detachably f connected with one of said structural members, each of said legs comprising a vertical channel, a plate overlying Vthe upper end of said channel, and connecting the channel and plate.

2. A portable platform having a load sag f orting floor, longitudinal guideways a Jacent opposite sides of the floor upon its under surface, and detachable leg members having portions adapted to' be slid into position within the guideways for supporting the platform, each of said leg members compriss ing a vertical channel, a plate extending above the upper end of said channel, and a gusset plate having a portion overlying the channel and connecting said channel and plate. i

3. i A portable platform having a load supa gusset` yplate ,for inter-V ima-rae porting floor, longitudinal guideways ad'a` cent opposite sides of the oor upon itsvun er surface, and detachable 'supporting members for, the platform'each comprising a vertical 5 channel, guidew'ay engaging means carriedat v the upper endv of said channel, and a gusset plate havin a flange overlying said channel and secure to said means.

4. A portable platform comprisin a load 10 supportlng floor, parallel angle bars isposed upon-fthe under side of the floor, a flat bar positioned adj acent, each angle bar and para-l el thereto, said angle bars and said at bars being spaced from the floor and from one 15 another to provide apair of guideways, and

detachable leg members for supporting the platform each comprising'a-n unper'portion adapted to interlock .in one of said guideways.

5. A'por'table platform havinga load supzo porting loor, parallel truss members extending beneath said door. leg supports for said platform each comprising a vertical channel. .f

. and a .gussetplate adapted to interconnect each channel and a truss member and havin :s a iange overlying the upper end ofthechan# nel and stiiening-webs at opposite sides of the channel. o o 6. A 'detachable leg support for a portable platform, comprising a 'fiat horizontal plate, t0 a vertical channel for supporting said plate, and a gusset plate having a ange overlying the upper end of the channel and stiening webs at opposite sides of thechannel. P

7. A portable platformcomprising a load lsupporting; floor. a pair of truss members ex- `ten ding beneath the Hoor along opposite sides anden-ch comprising a vertical `guide fiange -for a lift truck.'leg supports positioned at the outer faces of said ilanges,a gusset plate inn terposed between each leg and the guide flange and comprising an integral top flange 'overlying the upper end of the leg and integral webs uniting said iange and the cen-1 -tral web of the gusset plate.

8. A portable platfrin having a load vsup- I Jortmgf Hoor comprising a series of cross members, a truss member extending beneath the Hoor at each longitudinal side and includlng a vertical guide for a truck, leg supports positionedv at the outer faces of said guides and each vhaving means for supporting a plurahty of said cross members` said means including a gusset plate interposed between the leg and guide, said gusset plate having a l flange overlying the leg and a sti'ening web or-webs uniting the plate and flange.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

ROBERT T. ROMINE. 

